Hair and beauty
Nothing feels more self-indulgent than a bit of pampering. The best spas can be notoriously pricey, but don’t let that stop you.
One of the best ways to get your hair or nails done on the cheap is to head to your local beauty training school.
Trainee beauty students will provide massage, waxing, manicures, pedicures. For instance, the London College of Beauty Therapy offers a range of beauty treatment at cut-prices, including a drop-in nail bar.
Hair dressers are always on the lookout for models. Saks has academies in London, Cardiff, Darlington and Glasgow where punters can get cheap hair cut and colour, as well as beauty treatments.
The downside is that students can take a little longer than the qualified, but you still get the treatment for less and a teacher or supervisor will step-in if it looks as though they’re about to get it all wrong.
Don’t rule out council-funded gyms and sports centres for cheaper spa alternatives. For instance,Spa London runs a handful of spas in the capital that aim to undercut the pricier options.
Alternatively, lastminute.com, Livingsocial, Wahanda, Groupon are all worth checking for deals on beauty and pampering.
Finding your ensembles
You need to look the part if you’re going to live a life inspired by a multi-millionaire. But there’s no need to pay top whack – even for high-end labels.
First, you can get pounds off the price by shopping in the sales. Most retailers have a mass clear out at the end of the winter and summer, as well as mid-season price cuts.
Many labels make use of seasonal sample sales, where they sell off current season press and stock samples at a fraction of the full price– Reiss and Orla Kiely are both holding sales in the near future.
These do, however, tend to be a little London focused. LDN fashion lists most under their shopping channel.
Outside of London, try outlet shopping to get hold of past season stock at sale prices.
Bicester village, Oxfordshire features the likes of Jimmy Choo, Mulberry and Vivienne Westwood. McArthurGlen, runs a number of outlet villages across the country including Swindon designer outlet, where you can find Kurt Geiger, Ralph Lauren and Aquascutum, and Cheshire Oaks, with Reiss and All Saints.
Topshop lovers note that the chain has its own outlet shop in north London. And don’t forget TK Maxx, a bargain hunter’s paradise.
Meanwhile, online outlets are booming. The Outnet and BrandAlley both host designer stock at a snip of the price.
And many labels, including Dune, French Connection and Boden, run online outlet shops through ebay.
There are also a number of online outlets to pick-up second hand designer clothes, including ebay and the Vestiaire Collective.
If you have your eye on something in particular in the current season, check that you can’t get it online cheaper first by using a price runner such as Kellkoo.
Then check that there’s not a voucher or promotion that will get you money off – Vouchercodes.co.uk currently has deals for my-wardrobe.com and Office.
Last but not least, remember that cashback sites Quidco and Top Cashback will give you money back on purchases made through the sites.
Currently you can get 8.08% of your cost back on Reiss purchases, and 5.05% back on Coast, Karen Millen and Jaeger with Top Cashback. And 15% cashback on Savile Row purchases and 3% on Jack Wills with Quidco.
Holidays
A jet-set lifestyle isn’t complete without the jetting away, of course.
Again, Lastminute.com and Living Social are worth a pit stop for package getaways and if you’re not fussy about where you’re heading. British Airways and Virgin Holidays both list last minute deals at reasonable prices.
With all travel you should again check if you can get cashback through Quidco or Top Cashback.
The former currently has 1% cashback on Virgin Atlantic, while the latter has 5.05% cashback on selected British Airways holidays, 1.26% on Emirates sales and 4.04% on Sandals holidays.
It can often work out cheaper to put a holiday together yourself. Get the cheapest flight price by using a comparison tool, such as skyscanner.
And then the best accommodation deals by ‘signing up blind’ – both Last Minute.com and Secret Escapes offer this service. You can also get 9% cashback on Secret Escapes with both Quidco and Top Cashback.
Fizz and fine dining
The crowning glory of a champagne lifestyle is of course quaffing bubbles between mouthfuls of caviar.
As well as some of the websites already mentioned, Toptable is one of the best places to find deals for eating out.
Approved Food sells short-dated food or stock that is past its best before date, and has a dedicatedgourmet section.
Many cities have festivals to celebrate local culture and will offer special deals on eating out during this time. Many cities have festivals to celebrate local culture and will offer special deals on eating out during this time, such as Leicester and Gloucester's Big Eat festivals, London’s restaurant festival and Cardiff’s International Food and Drink Festival.
You can often get the best prices when restaurants have recently opened or are trialling a new menu.
As well as vouchers for dining out, HotUKDeals lists an entire thread where users post the best deals on champagne.
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